PNEUMATIC TIRE WITH SIDEWALL TREAD PROJECTIONS

• US 20100043934A1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Harvey, Delwyn Lovell
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/209.160
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/01 Shape of the shoulders between tread and sidewall, e.g. rounded, stepped or cantilevered
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/0304 Asymmetric patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/047 the groove bottom comprising stone trapping protection elements, e.g. ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/11 in which the raised area of the pattern consists only of isolated elements, e.g. blocks B60C11/12, B60C11/13 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/13 characterised by the groove cross-section, e.g. for buttressing or preventing stone-trapping
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 13/02 Arrangement of grooves or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2011/0381 Blind or isolated grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2011/0383 at the centre of the tread

Abstract

A pneumatic tire includes a circumferential tread disposed between opposing tread edges and opposing sidewalls disposed radially inward from the opposing tread edges. Each sidewall has a rectangular extension block and a triangular extension block. The rectangular extension block protrudes axially outward by a first amount. The triangular extension block protrudes axially outward by a second amount. The first amount is less than the second amount.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tire comprising:

a circumferential tread disposed between opposing tread edges; and

opposing sidewalls disposed radially inward from the opposing tread edges, each sidewall having a generally rectangular extension block and a triangular extension block, the rectangular extension block protruding axially outward by a first amount, the triangular extension block protruding axially outward by a second amount, the first amount being less than the second amount.

2. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 1 wherein the generally rectangular extension block defines a generally rectangular lateral tread surface along the sidewalls.

3. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 2 wherein the triangular extension block defines a triangular lateral tread surface along the sidewalls.

4. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 3 wherein a radially outer, circumferentially extending edge of the generally rectangular extension block provides sidewall grip and traction during off-road operation of the tire.

5. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 4 wherein the radially outer, circumferentially extending edge of the generally rectangular extension block is inclined relative to the circumferential direction of the tire in the range of 0°

to 40°

.

6. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 5 wherein the generally rectangular extension block protrudes axially 6-8 mm away from each sidewall.

7. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 6 wherein the triangular extension block has a radially and axially extending outer circumferential edge, a radially extending edge, and a circumferentially extending edge.

8. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 7 wherein the radially and axially extending edge and the radially extending edge of the triangular extension block provide sidewall grip and traction during off-road operation of the tire.

9. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 8 wherein the triangular extension block has a length such that a terminal point of the triangular extension block is radially aligned with an end of a corresponding generally rectangular extension block.

10. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 9 wherein the triangular extension block protrudes axially 8-10 mm away from each sidewall.

11. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 10 wherein the rectangular extension block protrudes axially 7 mm away from each sidewall.

12. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 11 wherein the triangular extension block protrudes axially 8 mm away from each sidewall.

13. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 12 wherein each sidewall includes a radially extending block interposed between circumferentially adjacent rectangular extensions blocks and circumferentially aligned with, and extending directly from, tread elements of the tread.

14. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 13 wherein the circumferentially extending edge of the triangular extension block has a maximum circumferential length of a pitch length, the pitch length being the circumferential length between adjacent triangular extensions.

15. A pneumatic tire comprising:

a circumferential tread disposed between opposing tread edges; and

opposing sidewalls disposed radially inward from the opposing tread edges, each sidewall having a generally rectangular extension block and a triangular extension block, the rectangular extension block defining a rectangular surface extending axially outward as the rectangular surface extends radially inward, the triangular extension block defining a triangular surface extending axially inward as the triangular surface extends radially inward.

16. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 15 wherein the triangular extension block is tapered across two surfaces to define a primary taper and a secondary taper.

17. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 16 wherein the primary taper extends from a radially and circumferentially extending edge of the triangular extension block radially inward toward a circumferentially extending edge of the triangular extension block.

18. The pneumatic tire as set forth in claim 17 wherein the circumferentially extending edge extends 1 mm away from one of the sidewalls.

19. The pneumatic tire as set froth in claim 18 wherein the secondary taper extends circumferentially toward a terminal point 170 of the triangular extension block.

20. The pneumatic tire as set froth in claim 19 wherein the terminal point extends 1 mm away from one of the sidewalls.